Birthday gift trip - city chosen sounds dangerous!

I do wonder if you struggle with anxiety a bit.

The things you list are the same in most cities.

The terrorism threat is sadly a sign of the times. Our own threat level is ‘substantial’ at present.

What a lovely thing for your partner to do! I have been to Brussels both on my own, for work and in a group- I have only ever had a lovely time and never felt the slightest bit in danger. The food is outstanding, the city is immensely walkable and pretty and the people are lovely. Go and have a great birthday; you can't protect yourself from everything, even if you never leave the house. Please don't let your daughter grow up being scared of setting foot outside her front door.

If you have time hop on the train to Bruges it is absolutely gorgeous and such a lovely place to visit. Plus the food is amazing!!!

I took my three kids to Brussels, solo. I didnt feel unsafe at all

Been living in Brussels for the past 10 years, never had issues. Don’t beleive everything you read online and filter your results. It’s much smaller than London and the center / tourist areas are perfectly fine.

Brussels is perfectly safe. Just don't go on the piss, get into fights and have your bag stolen as you drunkenly snore on the bus. All real life examples from my brother who thinks Brussels is awful and dangerous.
There are parks and palaces and chocolate and lovely squares. And I love the Atomium for its madness.

Brussels station is the only place family have ever been pickpocketed but the rest of the city felt safe

This is one of those occasions where the internet is not being helpful.

Brussels is a very safe city. Take the usual city precautions of not waving wads of cash about or walking at night in obviously dodgy areas.

Step away from your ‘research’ and enjoy your trip.

Totally agree with this. Bruges is far more interesting.

Do you go to London OP?

Another who's been to Brussels and finds it very safe, and much more relaxed than Amsterdam! There are areas which are a bit edgy, as in every city, but as a tourist you'd never go to one of them anyway.

I think the terrorist threat is probably the same in all Nato counties at the moment, it means more police on the streets, but as a tourist you wouldn't notice anything.

I second taking a trip to Ghent - it's really lovely, 40 mins by train, and you take a boat trip when you get there, great way to see the city.

Lots of English spoken in both.

This is really odd, I've been there while pregnant and it's safe and lots to wander rounds and see

Brussels is fine. But then again, I have brought my kids up in London so am used to life on the edge.

How is it any different to London, Manchester, Birmingham, Paris, New York, Beijing wouldn't it be safer not to leave the house thinking like this?

And what do you think people with children themselves do there?

Nonsense. US travel advisories rate pretty much all European countries as Level 2 due to an increased risk of terrorism: UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy. Brussels is just as safe/dangerous as any other large European city.

Brussels is pretty much like any city……….there’s crime, drug use, homelessness, etc everywhere. And I am not having a go at the homeless before anyone jumps on me for classifying them as criminals…….merely trying to define practically every city I’ve ever visited in Europe, Canada, USA.

It’s Brussels not Tehran

Love it!

OP, you need to get a handle on your anxiety. I’d suggest stepping away from the internet.

Beautiful, underrated and really not dangerous.

Brussels! Honestly Brussels is fine. The area around the midi station where you arrive is a bit filthy, dodgy late at night, (locals moan about it too), and watch out for pickpockets. Just take a taxi to wherever you’re staying and you’ll be fine! Go and see the grand place, and the area around Sablon, Magritte museum, etc, or for your child: train museum, natural history museum, there are many others. Eat moules frites, waffles, chocolate (go to chocolate museum or do a chocolate workshop), drink Belgian beer, there’s also an ‘Eye’ with a lovely view. Day trip to Ghent Bruges or Antwerp. Honestly you’ll find lots to do, culture, parcs, shopping around Avenue Louise (don’t go to Rue Neuve - a bit of a shitty area), or smaller boutiques in the Dansaert area. You’ll be fine, you’ll have nothing to worry about in Brussels!

I could not have imagined when I read your title that this would be Brussels

I love Brussels.
I do i often as a daytrip by myself.
The only time I was visually aware of a threat was when there was the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris with more attacks threatened. Security was tight and there was armed guards on the street. I've been loads of times since then and enjoy going.
Im thinking about going again if I get a few days off together in August and I can get a cheap enough flight.

I’ve taken student field trips to Brussels. It’s fine. There has been terrorist trouble - just as there has been in London, Paris and Berlin.

Take the DC to the chocolate museum and the Atomium, and to the mannekin pis! The old covered shopping arcades are lovely and the main square is wonderful. The military museum is interesting too, as is the cartoon museum.

🤦‍♀️

This probably applies to the whole world currently too! People cancelling holidays to Cyprus, Greece, UAE, USA.....

Unless you have a trip planned to Beirut or the Gaza Strip then I imagine everywhere is on high alert currently and it makes no odds whether you are in the UK or on holiday somewhere.